View/Open

View Statistics

Altmetrics

Share

Abstract

Birth defects (‎BDs)‎ are progressively contributing to a greater proportion of infant and childhood mortality. However, the burden of BDs in the SEA Region remains unknown because of the lack of national-level surveillance mechanism for birth defects. In the SEA Region it is planned to develop a BDs' surveillance manual along with tools based on the experience with the global package developed by WHO, International Clearinghouse on Birth Defects and Surveillance and the US CDC for the developing countries. This regional workshop was organized by WHO-SEARO in collaboration with the US CDC to help participants understand the principles of surveillance of BDs. National programme managers from countries, and technical officers from WHO, UNICEF and the US CDC attended the workshop. The report provides the summary of proceedings of the workshop. In addition to learning about the BD surveillance principles, the participants also developed recommendations on BDs' surveillance activities for Member States, as well as for WHO and the partner agencies.